Game device



June 7, 1960 L. L. VERVEER GAME DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1957 INVENTOR. Louis LVERVEER June 7, 1960 L. VERVEER' GAME DEVICE Filed April 11, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m DEVICE v as ipowm 47 l g 37 SUPPLY i POWER SUPPLY INVENTOR. LOUIS L. VERVEER Ma Jar/ June 7, 1960 Filed April 11, 1957 L. L. VERVEER GAME DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 9a 94 "as 96 e7 INVENTOR.

LOUIS L. VERVEER BY United States Patent GAME DEVICE L'ouis L. Verveer, 4710 Washington St, Downers Grove, 111.

Filed Apr. 11, 1957, Ser. No. 652,256

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-118) This invention relates to a new and improved game device.

A great many game devices have been proposed and employed in the past in which a set of game pieces, usually metal balls, are propelled from a starting station toward one or more target stations. The balls are usually projected sequentially from a single starting position and the game score is determined in accordance with the positions attained by the balls or in accordance with the targets hit by the game pieces as they traverse a multitarget game board. In virtually all of these prior art game devices, which are commonlyknown as pinball games or machines, the game piece or ball is always visible as it traverses the game board and the operator is in many instances able to control the movement of the ball by tilting, jarring, or otherwise moving the game board within certain limits. In games of this type, the player does not compete directly against an opponent, but rather attempts to build up as great a score as possible and the outcome of the game is decided by comparative scores of different players on different plays of the game.

Game devices of the type described hereinabove have found general acceptance in many instances, particularly when employed as coin-controlled games disposed in public places. They have not been widely accepted for domestic use, however, primarily because there is little or no element of direct competition between the players. That is, the opposing players using game devices of the type described hereinabove usually have no opportunity to take direct action affecting the score of the other player. Generally speaking, this direct competition element is highly desirable in a game intended primarily for domestic use or for any situation in which direct competition is desired. Moreover, in many instances, and particularly in game devices intended for use in the home, it is highly desirable that the game score be determined in substantial measure by the ability of the players to analyze the playing situation in logical terms and to control their play accordingly. Previously known games of the moving ball variety, however, have primarily been game of mechanical skill and have not been particularly subject to analysis on a reasonable basis.

A primary object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improved game device which afiords an opportunity for direct competition between players.

Another object of the invention .is a new and improved game device in which the outcome of the game is to a substantial extent determined by the ability of the player to analyze the game situation on the basis of observed results.

A further object of the invention is a new and improved game device which, although subject to logical analysis, aifords a sufficient degree of independent indeterminate action as to preclude complete and final determination ofthe game situation from observed results.

Another object of the invention is a new and improved game device of the moving ball type suitable for home use.

An additional object of the invention is a new and improved game device which appeals to the widest possible variety of players.

A corollary object of the invention is a new and improved logical game device which is inherently simple and economical in construction and inexpensive to operate.

A game device constructed in accordance with the invention may comprise a plurality of starting stations and a target station; preferably, the device further includes a reject station. A series of interconnected passageways are provided in the game device and extend from the starting stations to the target station and, in some instances, to the reject station. These passageways define a plurality of concealed paths connecting each starting station with the target station, along which a set of game pieces may travel. The game pieces, for example may comprise relatively small balls or other free-moving objects fabricated from metal or other suitable material. Preferably, a substantial number of the game pieces are made of a suitable magnetic material such as mild steel. A series of traps are located at predetermined points along the passageways but are disposed in concealed positions insofar as the starting stations may be concerned. These traps, which preferably comprise magnetic devices, are employed to arrest movement of the game pieces short of the target station. The game device further includes means for individually selectively actuating the traps between an active trapping condition and a passive condition in which they permit unobstructed movement of the game pieces through the passageways.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principies may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the game device of Fig. 1 with the upper cover thereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the game device of Fig. 1 taken along line 3--3 therein;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the game device with the upper cover thereof removed;

Fig, 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 in 'Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing a trap which may be employed in the game device;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified starting station structure which may be incorporated in the invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one type of game piece which may be employed in a game device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 9 illustrates a simplified form of coin-control apparatus which may be utilized in the inventive game device;

Fig. 12 is a further detail sectional view taken along line 1212 in Fig. and

Fig. 13 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating a further modification of the invention.

The game device 20 shown in the perspective views of Figs. 1 and 2 includes a base section 21 and a top section 22, the top section 22 having been removed in the view of Fig. 2. The top section 22 of the game device is provided with a pluralityof individual starting stations 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 which provide access to a series of conduits or passageways 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. The passageways 41-45 are not open to view through the upper surface of top portion 22; rather, the. top portion is fabricated from opaque material or otherwise rendered opaque to conceal the paths defined by the passageways 41-45.

The passageways 41-45 are supported upon the upper surface 46 of the base 21, the surface 46 being inclined downwardly from the starting stationstoward a target station 47. The individual passageways 41-45 do not extend directly into the target area adjacent target station47; rather, these conduits are interconnected with each other in order that each of the starting stations 31-35 may be connected to the target 47 by a plurality of different concealed paths. Thus, considering starting station 31 as an example, this station is connected by the conduit 41 to a passageway 48 which in turn leads to another passageway 49 opening onto the target 47. An alternate path from the starting station 31. is provided by afurther series of conduits 50', 51 and 52 which extend serially from the conduit 41 to the target 47. A wedge-shaped deflector 53 is located at the junction of passageways 41, 48 and 50 and is utilized to guide a game piece from conduit 41 into either of the latter two passageways, dependingupon the lateral orientation of the game piece as it approaches the deflector. This effect isperhaps best illustrated in Fig. .4, in which the arrow 54 shows the path taken by a ball rolling closely adja-v cent the one side 55 of conduit 41 and the arrow 56 shows the trajectory of a game piece moving closely adjacent the opposite .side 57 of the passageway 41. A similar wedge-shaped deflector 58 is located at the junction of conduitsSl and 52 and is employed to direct a moving game piece into conduit 52 or into a connecting conduit 59, depending upon the lateral displacement of the game piece within conduit 51 as it approaches the deflector. Passageway 59 leads back into the previously identified conduit 48.

Similarly, starting station 32 is connected to the target47 by a first path comprising the conduits 42, 51 and 52 and by analtcrnate path comprising the conduits 42, 51, 59, 48 and 49. Starting station 33 is connected to target 47 by a first path including the conduit 43,

passageway 51, and passageway 52 and is also connected .to the target station by an alternate path including conduits 43, 51, 59, 48 and 49. In addition, a deflector 62 is located at the end of passageway 43 and is employed to divert a moving game piece either toward passageway 51 or toward the passageway 44. Consequently, the starting station 43 is also connected to the target station 47 through yet another path including the conduit 43, aportion of-passageway 44, and a further conduit 63. Anadditionaldefiector 64 is located at the junction of conduits 44 and 63 and is employed to guide a moving game piece into'passageway 6.3 or into the passageway 45. Passageway 45, in turn, divides into two alternative conduits 65 and66, a deflector '67 being located at the end of passageway 45 adjacent the'latter two conduits. Conduit 66 leads to the tar-get station 47 through an additional conduit 68 whereas conduit 65 is connected to the targetstation through another passage: way 69. The junction between passageways 65 and 69is provided with a further deflectorelement70 which may guide a moving game piece into conduit 69 or into 4 a relatively short conduit 71 opening into the passageway 63.

It is thus seen that each of the starting stations 31-35 is provided with at least two alternative paths connecting the starting station to the target station 47 and that in some instances a considerably larger number of alternate paths are provided. In this connection, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the particular passageway pattern or maze'illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4; rather, this pattern is provided solely-for the purpose of illustrating the general type of interconnected passageway arrangement which may be employed in a \game device constructed in accordance with the invention. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the use of five starting stations but may include any desired number of starting stations depending upon the degree of complexity desired in the game. Further, in some instances it may be desirable to provide other tar-get stations in addition to the one target station 47 illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, again depending upon the complexity desired in the game and the type of scoring to be followed.

The various passageways shown in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 4 and described hereinabove are concealed completely from the player by the cover or top portion 22 of the game device. It is desirable, however, that the player be informed as to the passageway pattern in order to judge which starting stations aflord the best possibility of delivering a game piece or ball to the target station 47. Accordingly, the top section 22 of the game device is preferably painted, printed, or otherwise marked to identify for the player the passageway pattern interconnecting the starting stations 31-35 and the target station 47, this passageway identification marking being generally indicated in Fig. 1 by the reference numeral 73.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, an additional deflector 74 is provided at the junction of passageways 48 and 49 and is utilized to guide a game piece approaching that junction either into passageway 49 or into a further conduit or passageway 75. Similarly, passageway 66 corm municates with both the passageway 68 leading to the target 47 and the further conduit 76, the junction of the three conduits 66, 68 and 76 being provided with another deflector 77. Passageways 75 and 76 do not lead to the target station 47 but rather terminate at a reject station 78.

The end of the game device cover section 22 opposite starting stations 31-35 is provided with a hinged lid or cover 79 which overlies both the target station 47 and the reject station 78. This hinged lid 79 permits the players to gain access to the target and reject stations of the game and thus permits recovery of the game balls after a play has been completed, as is described more fully hereinafter. Alternatively, the game device may be provided with a mechanical ball return arrangement; inasmuch as mechanisms of this kind are well known in the art, no ball return apparatus has been illustrated. Moreover, and particularly in game devices intended for use in the home, a ball return mechanism is not essential to full enjoyment of the game and may well be omitted from the game device in order to keep the cost thereof to a minimum.

The game device 20 is also provided with a series of traps 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 87 which are located adjacent passageways 48, 49, 52, 63, 69, 66 and 68 respectively. Each of these traps, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is electrically connected to a suitable power supply 88 as indicated in Fig. 3. Moreover, each of thetraps 81-87 is individually electric-ally connected to one of a corresponding series of trapactuation switches 91-97 which are located atthe end of the game device opposite the starting stations 31-35, as shown in Figs. 3-5, preferably in a location concealed from the starting stations.

' Fig.- 6 afiords an enlarged detail view of one of the trap devices, the trap 81 being selected as an example.

indicated in Fig. 6 the trap device 81 is an electromagnet comprising a magnetic core 98 having apair of opposed pole pieces 99 and 100. An actuating coil 101 is wound upon the core 98. One terminal of coil 101 is connected directly to the power supply 88, the other coil terminal being connected thereto through the trap actuation switch 91. In the illustrated trap structure, the two pole pieces 99 and 100 extend adjacent opposite sides of the passageway 48 with which the trap is associated; this structural feature is not essential, however, and the entire trap structure may be located beneath the passageway if desired. This portion of the passageway 48 should be constructed from a non-magnetic material' in order to permit effective operation of the trap as it is described more fully hereinafter.

A set of game pieces are employed in the play of the game embodied in game device 20. Preferably, these game pieces are spherical in configuration to facilitate their movement from the starting stations 31-35 to the target station 47. In order for the trap devices such as. that illustrated in Fig. 6 to be effective, at least some of. the game devices must be fabricated from a magnetic material, preferably a magnetizable steel. All of the game balls may be made of magnetic material; on the other hand, the interest and eflectiveness of the game may be enhanced by incorporating at least one nonmagnetic ball in the set of game pieces. There is no particular number of game pieces essential to the game device; rather, the number of game. pieces may be determined in accordance with. the desires of the players orin' accordance with a standardized set of game rules.

'Iypieally, the game piece set may include ten individual balls, eight of which are fabricated from a magnetic material and two of which are non-magnetic in nature. Preferably, all of the game pieces should be identical in appearance and substantially identical in weight so that the player is unable to determine whether a'given game ball is non-magnetic or magnetic in construction. Thus, in the given example, the eight magnetic game pieces might be fabricated from mild steel and the two non-magnetic game balls could be made of one of a number of non-magnetic stainless steel alloys.

. The game is played by two players, each of whom participates in each play of the game. Thus, the two players may be seated at the opposite ends 102 and 103 of the game device. For convenience, the player positioned at the starting end 102 of the game is referred to hereinafter as the player, whereas the party positioned at the opposite end 103 of the game device is referred to as the opponent.

At the start of a given play of the game, the player is provided with the aforementioned set of game pieces. Before any of these game pieces are played, however, the opponent is permitted to actuate selected ones of the traps 8 1-87 by means of their individual control switches 91-97. Preferably, the number of traps which may be actuated for a, given play of the game is limited; that is, the opponent, using the illustrated embodiment of the game device, may be permitted to energize only three of the seven magnetic traps. Thus, it may be assumed that on the first play of the game the opponent closes switches 91, 9 3 and to energize the magnetic traps 81, 8 3 and 85.

After the opponent has had an opportunity to select and energize the traps he wishes to be effective, the player is permitted to proceed. :He deposits the game pieces one on in the starting stations 3 1735. The game rules may require that he permit eachgame piece to complete its movement before the next game piece is deposited; this is not essential, however, and the player may be permitted to place the balls in the startingstations "in tflyfime sequence he desires. i A As s'tuning that the player deposits the first game-ball in, starting station 31, and that the first game ball is one of the magnetic pieces, this ball may travel through the passageways 41 and 48 until it encounters trap 81. When the hall reaches this pQint, it is arrested by the trap, since the opponent has energized the trap device by closing switch 91. At point, the player knows that his first game ball has not reached the target but does not know just which trap has halted its movement. Consequently, he may elect to place the second game ball in starting station 31 or to change to a different starting station. Assuming that he places the second ball in starting station 31, this second game piece may travel through the same path as the first ball and, upon encountering the first game ball, may dislodge the latter from the trap 81 and permit it to continue its movement to the target station 47 The target station 47 is preferably constructed to provide either a visible or an audible signal to indicate the arrival of a game ball. Thus, the target station may comprise a simple mechanical bell or gong or may include an electrical device which lights a lamp positioned where the player and his opponent can see it.

After the second game ball has been played as described above, the player knows that one of the traps in the several paths connecting starting station 3 1 to the target station is energized, but he still cannot be sure just which one, since the same effect might have been. achieved if the two balls had traversed the alternate path comprising passageway 52 and the trap 83 or might have been caused by the energization of trap 82 in conduit 49. Consequently, the player may elect to experiment with one or more of the other starting stations 32-35 to determine if any of these permit unobstructed access to the target station 47.

It may also happen, after the first ball has been trapped by the device 81, and the player elects to continue the use of starting station 31, that the second ball may be of the non-magnetic variety. In this case, if the second ball traverses the same path as the first and encounters the first ball, it may dislodge the first ball from the trap and then may itself continue on to the target, affording a double score for the player. On the other hand, there is no complete assurance, even if the two game pieces or either of them escapes the trap, that they will reach the target station 47, since either one or both of them may be deflected by the deflector 74 into the conduit 75 and thence into the reject station 78, thereby lowering the score of the player. Moreover, it should be noted that the player is unable to determine to any degree of certainty whether a given game piece has been arrested by one of the traps or has been diverted to the reject station 78. In addition, if it happens that a non-magnetic ball is the first game piece disposed in any given starting station, the player has no way of determining that there are no energized traps in the paths leading from the station to the target station, since a magnetic ball subsequently deposited in the same starting station may be arrested by one of the traps.

In order to facilitate the players analysis of trap conditions in the game device, it may be desired to adjust the various deflectors so that under normal circumstances they tend to direct the game pieces toward given passageways. Thus, the deflector 58 may be positioned more closely adjacent the wall 104 of conduit 51 than the wall 105 thereof. If this is done, a game piece approaching the junction of conduits 51, 52 and 59 isnormally directed into the passageway 52 but may be deflected to passageway 59 if it happens to be rolling closely adjacent to wall 104 at the time it reaches the passageway junction. Ifunbalanced or biased junctions of this kind are employed in the game device, it is preferable that the maze or passageway representation 73 on the top of the game device (Fig. 1) be provided with suitable indicators such as the arrow 106 in order that the player may have. a better estimate of the probabilities involved in the play of the game. i r

It will be apparent from the foregoing descriptionof the'game device and the normal mode of play involved in its use that many different scoring results may be achieved, depending upon the sequence in which the player deposits the game balls in the starting stations, the paths followed by those gameballs as they move toward the target and reject stations, and the trap setting as'c ontrolledby the players opponent. Scoring may be a simple matter, one point being given to the player for each ball reaching the target station 47. If desired, however, more complex scoring schemes may beutilized; for example, the player might be given five'points for each ball reaching the target station and two points for each ball which ends up in the reject station, a bonus being awarded in those instances where a non-magnetic ball releases a magnetic ball to afford a dual target hit.

After a given play has been completed, all of the switches 9197 are opened to de-energize the various traps and permit the remainder of the balls to continue movement to target station 47 or reject station 78. The cover 79 may then be opened and the game pieces may be removed for the next play of the game. On the second play, the positions of the original player and opponent are reversed, and the initial opponent is permitted to play after the original player has actuated the specific number of traps,

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the invention which may be employed where it is not desired to rely on gravity to move the game balls through the game device. In

' this embodiment, a support member or bracket 110 is mounted in the base of the game device for pivotal movement about a mounting pin 11-1; Bracket 1 supports a game piece receptacle 112 having a central opening 113 through which a plunger 114 extends. A suitable aperture may be provided in the game device cover to afiord a means for introducing the game balls into receptacle 112. A drive spring 115 is mounted in encompassing relation to the plunger 114 and in engagement with the plunger and the rear wall of game piece receptacle 112. In this embodiment of the game, the starting stations are not directly accessible from the outside of the game device; rather, the starting stations 121125 are located within the game device cabinet and are disposed in alignment with the outlet opening of the game ball receptacle 112, which may be aligned with any of the starting stations by pivotal movement of the bracket 110. A suitable detenting or other indexing device may of course be provided to facilitate accurate alignment of receptacle 112 with the starting stations.

When the game device is modified to include the plungor arrangement illustrated in Fig. 7, it is not essential that the game passageways be disposed on an inclined surface such as the surface member 46 (Fig. 2). Rather, the impetus for the game piece movement from the starting stations 121- 125 to the target station of the game device may be provided solely by the action of plunger 1'14 and spring 115. If this arrangement is employed, it is desirable to utilize a drive spring which affords only a limited driving force, since otherwise the game balls might well be propelled through the game device passageways at speeds great enough to prevent effective operation of the traps. If desired, of course, the plunger arrangement of Fig. 7 may also be incorporated in a game device having an inclined passageway system.

As indicated hereinabove, the game pieces may be fab ricated from magnetic and non-magnetic steels to afford the desired uniformity in weight and general appearance. This effect may also be achieved by adopting the game piece construction illustrated in Fig. 8. The game ball 130 illustrated therein comprises a central core 131, preferably of spherical configuration, which may be fabricated either from a magnetic material, such as a suitable mild steel, or from a non-magnetic'material such as brass, other non-magnetic metals, or non-metallic materials. The game piece 130 is also provided with an exterior coating 132which may comprise an enamel, or may consist of a resin, rubber, or other suitable non-magnetic material. Moreover, the relative dimensions of the core 131 and exterior coating 132 may be adjusted to provide game effective as an insulator with respect to the magnetic: field developed bythe trap device 81 (Fig. 6). It 18 of: course highly desirable that the coating 132 be fabricated;

from a tough, wear-resistant material, since otherwise the game pieces might become damaged during use.

I As thus far described, the game device of the inventionis primarily intended for domestic use and therefore includes no provision for coin control. It is possible, of course, to adapt the device for coin control where it is to be used as an amusement device in public establishmerits. In the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9,v a gate member 134 is supported within the game device cabinet closely adjacent the starting stations 31-35 and is mechanically connected to a pair of solenoid-actuated control devices 135 and 136. The control devices 135 and 136, in turn, are electrically connected to a coincontrolled actuator 137 which is electrically connected to the power supply 88. The gate 134 is shown in its actuated condition in Fig. 9, leaving the starting stations 31+3S open for play. As soon as play has been completed, however, and operator 137 is de-energized, the gate 134 moves to its alternate or closed position indicated by the dash outline 134A until another coin is deposited in the coin-controlled actuator 137. This arrangement is intended only to illustrate one of the many ways in which the game may be adapted for coin-controlled operation and any' other effective apparatus of this type may be utilized without departing in any way from the inventive concept. 7 i

Figs. 10-12 illustrate another form of magnetic trap which may be incorporated in a game device constructed in accordance with the invention. The trap 144 illustrated therein, which may be substituted for one of'the traps of the previously-described embodiments such as trap 84, includes a pair of support members or brackets 145 and 146 suitably supported upon the base 21 of the game device. An actuating rod 147 extends from the bracket 146 through the rear wall 103 of the game device to a point where the opponent has access to it; preferably, the rod 147 is provided with a control knob 148 on the end thereof outside of the game device cabinet. One end of the actuating rod 147 is supported by the bracket 146 for sliding movement in relation thereto as by a sup port pin 149 aflixed to the bracket 146 and extending through a suitable longitudinal slot 150 in the actuating rod.

At a point intermediate bracket 146 and knob 148 and in alignment with bracket 145, the actuating rod 147 is pivotally connected to a vertically extending lever 151 as 'by a connecting pin 152 affixed to the actuating rod 147 and extending through a longitudinal slot 153 in the lever 151. Lever 151 is also pivotally connected to and supported by the bracket 145 as indicated by the pin.154.' A support bracket 155 is afiixed to the upper end of the lever 151 and is employed to support a permanent mag net 156. i

In Figs. 10 and 12, the trap device 144 is shown in its actuated or trapping condition with the permanent mag net 156 located immediately adjacent the lower surface of the game device passageway 63. In this position, the permanent magnet is efiective to halt any magnetic game 'piecewhich approaches it, travelling along passageway 63,and to hold that game piece unless released by the impact from a second game piece moving, along the; passage way. In this respect, the'trap 144 functions in essentially the same'manner 'as the electromagnetic trapping device described hereinabove in connection with Fig. 6 when the latter is energized by the closing of switch 91. I Actuating rod 147 may, however, be moved to the right,

as seen in Fig. 10, to the position indicated by dash outline 148A. When this is accomplished, the lever 151 is pivoted to the position 151A and the permanent magnet 156 is displaced substantially from the passageway 63 as indicated by the dash outline 156A. Thus, the trap device may be established in an active or a passive condition by mechanically displacing the permanent magnet with respect to the passageway, just as the electromagnetic trap described hereinabove may be established in either an active or a passive condition by closing or opening its control switch. Accordingly, permanent magnet traps of the general kind illustrated in Figs. -12 may be substituted directly for the electromagnetic trapping device described hereinabove without departing in any sense from the inventive concept.

As indicated hereinabove, it is desirable that the game device include a series of traps located at different predetermined concealed points along the various passageways of the device and means for individually selectively actuating those traps between their active trapping condition and a passive condition to the end that the opponent may actuate only a certain number of the traps during a given play. As described above, in a game device including seven difierent traps it may be desirable to limit the opponent to the use of three individual traps. It is highly desirable that the actuation or control means for the traps be concealed from the view of the player, since otherwise he would be able to adjust his play to take best advantage of the passageways including no actuated traps. Accordingly, it may be desirable in someinstances to afiord the player a positive indication of the number of traps which have been actuated by his opponent or at least to inform him if the opponent deviates from the rules by actuating more traps than he should. This is accomplished by the circuit arrangement illustrated in Fig. 13. As shown therein, the switches 91-97 which control the electromagnetic traps in the first-described embodiment of the invention are each connected in series with one of the trap coils, here shown as coils 101 and 162-167, the individual coil and switch circuits each being can nected in parallel with all of the others across the power supply 88. In this arrangement, an ammeter 168 is connected in one of the leads from the power supply. The ammeter may be suitably masked to conceal the meter pointer for relatively low current values up to and including the total current drawn by the trap circuits whenever a maximum of three of the switches 91-97 are closed. The masking arrangement may be calibrated, however, to permit the observer to see the ammeter pointer whenever a total of four or more of the trap-actuation switches are closed. Thus, if the ammeter 168 is located in a position in which it may be viewed by the player, he is afforded a positive check on the actions of the opponent to the extent that he is informed if the opponent closes more than the allotted number of trap switches.

The game device as described hereinabove affords an excellent contest of wits between the opponent and the player in that it permits the opponent to select the combination of switches he feels will be most eiiective to inhibit the play and permits the player to alter his play during each turn to fit observed conditions as play progresses. At the same time, enough uncertainty is introduced into the game so that the player can never be completely certain as to the eifects of any given individual play. In this respect, the game device is very well suited for domestic use, and is also adapted for use in public establishments where a directly competitive game is desired.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of 10 such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected passageways, extending from the starting stations to the target station, through which a set of magnetic game pieces may travel along any of a plurality of substantially indeterminate paths connecting each starting station with the target station; means for masking said passageways and preventing observance of the positions of game pieces intermediate said starting and target stations; a series of magnetic trap devices, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways and each individually actuatable from an ineffective to an eitective condition, for arresting movement of the game pieces and retaining the game pieces at positions short of said target station; and means for selectively individually actuating said trap devices between an active condition in which said devices are eflective to arrest movement of the game pieces and an inactive condition in which said trap devices pennit free passage of the game pieces, in a manner such that the traps which are actuated to an active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all of the game pieces have been played.

2. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected passageways, extending from the starting stations to the target station, through which a set of magnetic game pieces may travel along any of a plurality of substantially indeterminate paths connecting each starting station with the target station; means for masking said passageways and preventing observance of the positions of game pieces intermediate said starting and target stations; a series of electromagnetic traps, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arresting movement of the game pieces and retaining the game pieces at positions short of said target station; and switch means for individually selectively energizing said traps from a location concealed from said starting stations, in a manner such that the traps which are actuated to said active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all of the game pieces have been played.

3. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected passageways, extending from the starting stations to the target station, through which a set of magnetic game pieces may travel along any of a plurality of substantially indeterminate paths connecting each starting station with the target station; means for masking said passageways and preventing observance of the positions of game pieces intermediate said starting and target stations; a series of traps, comprising a series of permanent magnets located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arresting movement of the game pieces short of said target station; and means for selectively individually actuating each of said traps between an active position adjacent one of said passageways and a passive position substantially spaced from said passageways, said actuating means being located at a position concealed from said starting stations.

4. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected passageways extending from the starting stations to the target station and defining a plurality of concealed paths connecting each starting station with the target station; a set of game pieces each adapted to travel along said concealed paths from said starting stations to said target station, said set including a plurality of magnetic game pieces and at least one non-magnetic game piece; a series of magnetic trap devices, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arresting movement of the magnetic game pieces and retaining the game pieces at positions short of said target station; and means for selectively individually actuating said trap devices between an active condition in which said devices are effective to arrest movement of the'magnetic game pieces and an inactive condition in which said trap devices permit free passage of said magnetic game pieces, in a manner such that the traps which are actuated to said active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all of the game pieces have been played.

5. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected passageways extending from the starting stations to the target station and defining a plurality of concealed paths connecting each starting station with the target station; a set of game balls of uniform appearance each adapted to travel along said concealed paths from said starting stations to said target station, said set including a plurality of magnetic steel balls and at least one non-magnetic steel ball; a series of magnetic trap devices, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arresting movement of the magnetic balls and retaining the magnetic game balls at positions short of said target station; and means for selectively individually actuating said trap devices between an active condition in which said devices are efiective to arrest movement of the magnetic balls and an inactive condition in which said trap devices permit free passage of said magnetic balls, in a manner such that the traps which are actuated to said active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all of the game balls have been played.

6. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected passageways extending from the starting stations to the targetstation and defining a plurality of concealed paths connecting each starting station with the target station; a set of game balls each adapted to travel along said concealed paths from said starting stations to said target station, said set including a plurality of magnetic metal balls and at least one non-magnetic metal ball, all of said game balls having a uniform exterior finish coating and being of substantially uniform weight and size; a series of magnetic trap devices, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arresting movement of the magnetic balls and retaining the magnetic game balls at positions short of said target station; and means for selectively individually actuating said trap devices between an active condition in which said devices are efiective to arrest movement of the magnetic balls and an inactive condition in which said trap devices permit free passage of said magnetic balls, in a manner such that the-traps which are actuated to said active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all of the game balls have been played.

7. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations;'a target station; a reject station; a series of interconnected passageways extending fiom the starting stations to the target and reject stations and definingaplurality of concealed paths connecting each starting 'station with the targe and rejectstations; a set of game pieces each adapted to travel along said concealed paths from said starting stations toward said target and reject stations, said set including a plurality of magnetic game pieces and at least one non-magnetic game piece; a series of magnetic trap devices, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arrestingmovement of the game pieces and retaining the game pieces at positions short of said target station; and means for selectively individually actuatingsaid trap devices between an active condition in which said devices are effective to arrest movement of the magnetic game pieces and an inactive condition in which said trap devices permit free passage of said magnetic game pieces, in a manner such that the traps which are actuated to said active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all of the game pieces have been played.

8. A game device comprising: a plurality of starting stations; a target station; a series of interconnected inclined passageways extending from the starting stations to the target station and defining a plurality of concealed paths connecting each starting station with the target sta-' tion; a set of game pieces each adapted to travel along said concealed paths under the influence of gravity from said starting stations to said target station, said set including a plurality of magnetic game pieces and at least one non-magnetic game piece; a series of magnetic trap devices, located at predetermined concealed points along said passageways, for arresting movement of the magnetic game pieces and retaining the game pieces at positions short of said target station; and means for individually selectively actuating said trap devices between a passive condition in which the trap devices permit free passage of said magnetic game pieces and an active condition in which the devices are efiective to arrest movement of a magnetic game piece until impacted by a second game piece, in a manner such that the traps which are actuated to said active trapping condition are maintained in said trapping condition until all ,of the game pieces have been played.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,278,203 Pierce Sept.- 10, 1918 1,616,280 Prins Feb. 1, 1927 2,184,867 Williams et a1. Dec. 26, 1939 2,236,536 Hilton Apr. 1, 1941 2,616,696 Field Nov. 4, .1952 2,665,912 Juran Jan. 12, 1954 2,873,119 ORourke Feb. 10, 1959 

